Automatic cycle timer with manual defeat feature

ABSTRACT

An automatic cycle timer has a switch for controlling an external appliance. The switch is opened and closed automatically at predetermined times by a drive mechanism powered by an electric motor which has its own energizing circuit not controlled by the switch for the external appliance. The drive mechanism includes a reduction gear train which revolves a pair of cams, one for closing and the other for opening the switch. The cams do not engage the switch button directly, but instead move an actuator element which rides toggle fashion in an Lshaped slot formed in a mode selector element. When the mode selector is in a neutral position, the actuator determines the condition of the switch and the operation of the cycle timer is fully automatic; i.e. under the control of the motor-driven mechanism. But when the mode selector element is manually switched to another position it closes the switch, and in still another position it opens the switch, in either case without regard to the position of the actuator or the motor-driven mechanism. Thus manual manipulation of the mode selector takes precedence over automatic operation, but the operation of the motor is not thereby interrupted.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James A. Drachi Manchester, Conn. [21] Appl. No. 775,430 [22] Filed Nov. 13, 1968 [45] Patented June 1,1971 [73] Assignee M. 11. Rhodes lnc.

Hartford, Conn.

[54] AUTOMATIC CYCLE TIMER WITH MANUAL Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-J R. Scott Attorneyl-lubbell, Cohen and Stiefel ABSTRACT: An automatic cycle timer has a switch for controlling an external appliance. The switch is opened and closed automatically at predetermined times by a drive mechanism powered by an electric motor which has its own energizing circuit not controlled by the switch for the external appliance. The drive mechanism includes a reduction gear train which revolves a pair of cams, one for closing and the other for opening the switch. The cams do not engage the switch button directly, but instead move an actuator element which rides toggle fashion in an L-shaped slot formed in a mode selector element. When the mode selector is in a neutral position, the actuator determines the condition of the switch and the operation of the cycle timer is fully automatic; i.e. under the control of the motor-driven mechanism. But when the mode selector element is manually switched to another position it closes the switch, and in still another position it opens the switch, in either case without regard to the position of the actuator or the motor-driven mechanism. Thus manual manipulation of the mode selector takes precedence over automatic operation, but the operation of the motor is not thereby interrupted.

' PATENTEU JUN 1 |97| J 1 ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR JAMES A. DRAGHI AUTOMATIC CYCLE TIMER WITH MANUAL DEFEAT FEATURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cycle timers for automatically controlling electrical appliances, and is particularly concerned with a timer of this kind in which automatic operation can be overridden manually.

THE PRIOR ART The prior art is aware of many automatic devices which turn on and off electrical appliances at predetermined times in a timing cycle. An example is a cycle timer of the type which the following morning when the building is unoccupied, for

the purpose of discouraging burglary.

Devices of this type which were known to the prior art worked satisfactorily when they were allowed to function in the automatic mode. However, when it was necessary to over ride manually the automatic operation of such a cycle timer, the only way to accomplish this in some devices is by interrupting the operation of the clock motor. This had the undesired efiect of stopping the clock so that the indicated time fell behind the actual time of day. Subsequently, it was necessary to reset the clock before putting the cycle timer back in automatic operation.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A general object of this invention is to provide a cycle timer which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art devices, particularly one which permits the controlled appliance to be turned on or off manually without interrupting the timing cycle. Another objective of the invention is to provide a cycle timer having two different moveable elements, one of which is moveable automatically in response to the phase of the timing cycle to close or open a switch, and the other of which is moveable manually to open or close the same switch regardless of the position of the first-mentioned element. Still another objective of the invention is to provide a novel structural interrelationship between these two elements so that they perform their individual movements under automatic and manual control respectively, while still preserving their functional relationships, so that the device can at any time be shifted between manual and automatic operation. Additional features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cycle timer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the same cycle timer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT main plate 12, and drives an output shaft 18 through a conventional reduction gearing 20. At the outer end of the output shaft 20 is a time indication or readout disc 22 which is rotated once per timing cycle by the shaft. In a typical application .where the cycle timer 10 is to be used for turning house lights on and off once per day, the period of rotation of the time readout disc 22 is twenty four hours.

Numeral 24 refers to the schematic representation ofa pair of ratchet and pawl mechanisms which are adjustable about the periphery of the circular readout disc 22, and which carry with them switch-operating earns 28 and 30. Cam 28 is operative to open an electrical switch 32 mounted on the front surface of plate 12 at a time which depends upon its adjusted location around the periphery of disc 22, and the other cam 30 is similarly operable to close the switch 32 at another time which is also dependent upon its adjusted location relative to the disc 22. The cam 28 is located at a somewhat greater radial distance from the shaft 18 than is the cam 30. The paths followed by the earns 28 and 30 are shown respectively by dotted lines 29 and 31 in FIG. 2.

The switch 32 is operated by means of a button 54 which projects from the top surface thereof. That button is depressed to close the switch, or released to open the switch, by means of a tab 48 which projects rearwardly through an opening l4l formed in the auxiliary plate 14. The tab 48 is affixed to an actuator member 46 which in turn is moveably mounted upon a mode selector element 36. The mode selector 36 is pivotally mounted on the auxiliary plate 14.

There are two alternative ways in which the actuator member 46 can be displaced so as to move the tab 48 into or out of engagement with the switch button 54. In the automatic operating mode of the timer 10, the actuator member 46 is automatically displaced relative to the mode selector element 36 by the earns 28 or 30. In the manual operating mode, on the other hand, the entire mode selector element 36 is manually displaced relative to the auxiliary plate 14, carrying the actuator member 46 with it.

In order to accomplish this, the actuator member 46 is mounted upon the mode selector element 36 for both translational and rotational movements relative thereto.

Specifically, a first pin 44 projects forwardly from the actuator member 46 and passes through a slot 42 formed in the mode selector element 36. The slot 42 has the shape of an inverted L, and the pin 44 rides vertically in the lower end of the vertical leg of the L. An enlarged head 44] is formed upon the pin 44, to prevent withdrawal of the pin from the slot 42. The connection between the actuator member 46 and the mode selector element 36 formed by the pin 44 and the slot 42 allows the actuator member 46 to perform both the necessary translational movement, in which the pin 44 rides vertically in the slot 42, and the necessary rotational movement, in which the actuator member 42 rotates about the axis of the pin 44, relative to the mode selector element 36.

A second pin 50 also projects forwardly from the actuator element 46 and through the upper end of the L-shaped slot 42. The engagement of the pin 50 against the boundaries of the slot 42 defines two limits of the combined translational and rotational movement of the actuator member 46. One such limit is reached when the pin 50 moves linearly up into the vertex of the L-shaped slot 42 and then rotates as far as possible towards the outer end of the horizontal leg of the slot. This position, which is illustrated by the solid lines of FIG. 2 represents one of the switch-actuating positions of the actuator member 46, specifically the position for disengaging the tab 48 from the switch button 54 and thus opening the switch 32. The opposite switch-actuating position, in which the tab 48 depresses the button 54 to close the switch 32, occurs when the pin 50 rides back across the horizontal leg and into the vertex of the L-shaped slot 42, and both pins 50 and 44 then ride down the vertical leg of the slot until the pin 44 strikes the lower end thereof. The latter situation is represented by the broken lines of FIG. 2.

A biasing spring 52 is connected between the actuator member 46 and the mode selector element 36 so as to control the relative positions of these two elements in a specific manner. One end of the biasing spring 52 is hooked through an opening 53 formed in an ear-55 projecting from the actuator member 46, while the opposite end of the biasing spring is hooked through an opening 57 formed in the mode selector element 36. The edge of the mode selector element 36 is relieved at location 59 to accommodate the biasing spring 52. The biasing spring 52 is arranged to exert both a downward translational force and a clockwise torque (as seen in H6. 2) about the axis of pin 44, upon the actuator element 46 relative to the mode selector 36.

As a result, the actuator member 46 snaps overcenter between its two switchactuating additions. In one of these positions the torque exerted by the biasing spring 52 holds the pin 50 against the end of the horizontal leg of L-shapcd slot 42, while the lower edge of the horizontal leg of that slot 42 prevents the actuator member 46 from moving downwardly in response to the translational force exerted by the biasing spring 52. In the other position, the translational force of the spring 52 holds the pin 44 against the lower end of the vertical leg of slot 42, while the pin 50 is engaged against the side edge of the vertical leg of the slot 42 to prevent the actuator member 46 from responding to the torque. The exact centerpoint of the overcenter motion of the actuator element 46 is reached when the pin 50 has ridden slightly past the vertex of the L-shaped slot 42 and a short distance down the vertical leg thereof.

For automatic operation of the cycle timer 10, the mode selector element 36 is positioned as shown by the solid lines of the drawings, and the position of the actuator member 46 relative thereto is automatically controlled by the earns 28 and 30 in response to the timed cycle of the motor 16 and disc 22. Specifically, when the pin 50 is at the outer end of the horizontal leg of slot 42, the cam 30 in its passage through the lower arc of its circular track 31 engages a projection, preferably an extension of pin 50, which protrudes from the actuator 46 and extends through slot 42 forwardly of the mode selector 36. As a result, the cam 30 drives the pin 50 toward the vertex of the slot 42, and the surface of the cam 30 is angled so that it also drives the pin 50 a short distance down the vertical leg of the slot, past the overcenter point, until the biasing spring 52 takes over and snaps the actuator member 46 into its other position.

On the other hand, when the pin 50 is located a short distance down the vertical leg of the slot 42, the larger radius of circular track 29 causes the other cam 28 to engage the projection of pin 50 at the lower arc of the track. This cam is angled to drive the pin upwardly into the vertex of the slot 42. From the vertex, which is past the overcenter point, the spring 52 thereafter snaps the actuator member 46 into its opposite switch-actuating position.

The earns 28 and 30 can control the switch 32 automatically in this way only when the mode selector 36 is in its solid line position. Whenever the operator decides to override the automatic operation of the device by closing the switch 32 manually, he grasps a control knob 64 which is affixed to a shaft 60, the shaft in turn being secured to the mode selector element 36. By rotating the knob 64, shaft 60 and mode selector element 36 counterclockwise to the position of the dashed lines of FIG. 2, the operator manually brings the tab 48 down against the button 54 to close the switch 32, regardless of the position of the actuator member 46 relative to the mode selector 36. Conversely, when the operator manually rotates the knob 64, shaft 60 and mode selector 36 clockwise to the position of the dotted lines of FIG. 2, the tab 48 is rotated away from button 54, allowing the switch 32 to open regardless of the position of the actuator member 46 relative to the mode selector element 36.

Thus the mode selector element 36 is manually rotatable from its upright position, in which the cooperation between the actuator element 46 and the switch button 54 is deter mined solely by the earns 28 and 30, to its counterclockwise position of FIG. 2 in which the switch button 54 is always depressed, and its clockwise position of FIG. 2 in which the switch button is always released.

In order to define these three operating positions of the mode selector 36, there is provided a detenting mechanism 62. This includes an annular, dish-shaped spring element 61 (e.g. a Belleville washer) which surrounds the shaft 60 and is compressed between the rear surface of the auxiliary plate 14 and a retaining clip 63 engaged in a groove formed in the shaft 60. Compression of the spring 61 between members 14 and 63 serves to bias the mode selector element 36 against the front surface of the plate 14. As a result, a dimple 65 which is struck rearwardly from the mode selector element 36 protrudes toward the auxiliary plate 14 and cooperates with three apertures 66 formed in the auxiliary plate 14 to detent the mode selector 36 in each of its respective positions. When the mode selector 36 is moved between these positions, the dimple 65 rides up out of one of the apertures 66, compressing the spring element 61, until it is able to drop back into another one of the apertures 66 when the mode selector 36 reaches another of its positions.

In order to limit rotation of the mode selector 36, lugs 38 and 40 are formed integrally with the auxiliary plate 14 and project upwardly into the opening 14-] on either side of the mode selector 36. When the side edges of the mode selector strike either of these lugs 38 or 40, the mode selector has reached the respective limits of its rotational movement.

it will now be appreciated that the cycle timer of this invention can be manually controlled by rotating the made selector to opposite positions in which the switch is closed or open, regardless of the position to which the actuator has been moved under automatic control of the motor-driven cams. Moreover, when such manual operation of the device is undertaken to override the automatic actuation of the switch, this has no effect upon the motor [6, which continues to operate without interrupting the timing cycle of the device. As a result, the time readout disc remains in phase with the time of day, and does not need to be reset after each manual override operation. This result, moreover, is accomplished by means of a unique toggling cooperation between the actuator member and the mode selector.

Since the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative, the scope of protection of the invention has been more broadly stated in the following claims; and these should be liberally interpreted so as to obtain the benefit of all equivalents to which the invention is fairly entitled.

The invention I claim is:

l. A manually overridable automatic cycle timer compris ing: a switch, a motor, means for supplying energy to said motor independently of the condition of said switch, a switch actuator, a mode selector mounting said actuator for movement relative to said mode selector between a first position in which said actuator operates said switch and a second position in which said actuator does not operate said switch, means driven cyclically by said motor for automatically moving said actuator at least from one of said positions to the other of said positions relative to said mode selector at a predetermined phase of the cycle thereof, and means mounting said mode selector to be manually moveable from a first position in which said actuator is so engaged by said automatic means to at least a second position in which said actuator is not so engaged by said automatic means, whereby manually to override the effect of said automatic means on said switch, said actuator being moveable with said mode selector to said second position to operate said switch whether said actuator is in its first or second position relative to said mode selector, said mode selector being further moveable to a third position in which said actuator does not operate said switch whether said actuator is in its first or second position relative to said mode selector, said mode selector comprising an L-shaped slot, said actuator being pivoted on said mode selector and comprising a pin disposed within said slot for movement in response to pivotal movement of said actuator in one angular direction in said slot when said actuator is pivoted toward its first position and in the other angular direction in said slot when said actuator pivots toward its second position, and further comprising an overcentering spring connected between said actuator and said mode selector for biasing said actuator respectively toward said two positions, and means for mounting said actuator on said mode selector for translational motion in addition to said pivotal motion.

2. A timer as in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a projection, said automatic means comprises a pair of cams operatively connected to said motor for cyclical rotation thereby along different paths, one of said cams being arranged to engage said projection when said pin is in one leg of said L and to drive said projection in a direction to snap said actuator overcenter in one direction and the other of said cams being arranged to engage said projection when said pin is in the other leg of said L, and to drive said projection in the direction to snap said actuator overcenter in the opposite direction.

3. A timer as in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a projection, said automatic means comprises a pair of cams, and further comprising a rotatable disc operatively connected to said motor for rotation thereby, means for mounting said cams on said disc for movement with said disc along paths at different radial distances from said disc center, one of said cams being shaped to drive said projection in the direction to move said pin first along a first leg of said L to the vertex of said L- and then along a second leg of said L away from said vertex, the other cam being shaped to drive said projection in the direction to move said pin along said second leg of the L to said vertex.

4. A timer as in claim 3, wherein the means mounting said actuator on said mode selector for translational and pivotal motion relative thereto comprise a second pin extending from said actuator and riding in said slot, said second pin being formed with an enlarged head to prevent its withdrawal from said slot.

5. A timer as in claim 4, wherein said switch comprises an operating button, said actuator has an operating tab projecting therefrom for depressing said operating button whenever said mode selector is in its second position and for depressing said operating button when said mode selector and said actuator are both in their respective first positions, said operating tab being spaced from said operating button when said mode selector is in its third position or when said actuator is in its second position.

6. A timer as in claim 5 further comprising means for detenting said mode selector in each of said three positions thereof,

7. A timer as in claim 6 further comprising: a mounting plate, means rotatably mounting said mode selector upon said plate, and wherein said detenting means comprises interengaging male and female elements for detaining said mode selector in each of its positions relative to said mounting plate, said timer further comprising resilient biasing means for yieldably urging said mode selector toward said plate, whereby said mode selector can be transferred from one position to another. 

1. A manually overridable automatic cycle timer comprising: a switch, a motor, means for supplying energy to said motor independently of the condition of said switch, a switch actuator, a mode selector mounting said actuator for movement relative to said mode selector between a first position in which said actuator operates said switch and a second position in which said actuator does not operate said switch, means driven cyclically by said motor for automatically moving said actuator at least from one of said positions to the other of said positions relative to said mode selector at a predetermined phase of the cycle thereof, and means mounting said mode selector to be manually moveable from a first position in which said actuator is so engaged by said automatic means to at least a second position in which said actuator is not so engaged by said automatic means, whereby manually to override the effect of said automatic means on said switch, said actuator being moveable with said mode selector to said second position to operate said switch whether said actuator is in its first or second position relative to said mode selector, said mode selector being further moveable to a third position in which said actuator does not operate said switch whether said actuator is in its first or second position relative to said mode selector, said mode selector comprising an L-shaped slot, said actuator being pivoted on said mode selector and comprising a pin disposed within said slot for movement in response to pivotal movement of said actuator in one angular direction in said slot when said actuator is pivoted toward its first position and in the other angular direction in said slot when said actuator pivots toward its second position, and further comprising an overcentering spring connected between said actuator and said mode selector for biasing said actuator respectively toward said two positions, and means for mounting said actuator on said mode selector for translational motion in addition to said pivotal motion.
 2. A timer as in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a projection, said automatic means comprises a pair of cams operatively connected to said motor for cyclical rotation thereby along different paths, one of said cams being arranged to engage said projection when said pin is in one leg of said L and to drive said projection in a direction to snap said actuator overcenter in one direction and the other of said cams being arranged to engage said projection when said pin is in the other leg of said L, and to drive said projection in the direction to snap said actuator overcenter in the opposite direction.
 3. A timer as in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a projection, said automatic means comprises a pair of cams, and further comprising a rotatable disc operatively connected to said motor for rotation thereby, means for mounting said cams on said disc for movement with said disc along paths at different radial distances from said disc center, one of said cams being shaped to drive said projection in the direction to move said pin first along a first leg of said L to the vertex of said L- and then along a second leg of said L away from said vertex, the other cam being shaped to drive said projection in the direction to move said pin along said second leg of the L to said vertex.
 4. A timer as in claim 3, wherein the means mounting said actuator on said mode selector for translational and pivotal motion relative thereto comprise a second pin extending from said actuator and riding in said slot, said second pin being formed with an enlarged head to prevent its withdrawal from said slot.
 5. A timer as in claim 4, wherein said switch comprises an operating button, said actuator has an operating tab projecting therefrom for Depressing said operating button whenever said mode selector is in its second position and for depressing said operating button when said mode selector and said actuator are both in their respective first positions, said operating tab being spaced from said operating button when said mode selector is in its third position or when said actuator is in its second position.
 6. A timer as in claim 5 further comprising means for detenting said mode selector in each of said three positions thereof.
 7. A timer as in claim 6 further comprising: a mounting plate, means rotatably mounting said mode selector upon said plate, and wherein said detenting means comprises interengaging male and female elements for detaining said mode selector in each of its positions relative to said mounting plate, said timer further comprising resilient biasing means for yieldably urging said mode selector toward said plate, whereby said mode selector can be transferred from one position to another. 